Vending machine Junk Wax

Many, many months ago, I was desperately searching for trading partners and was unable to find a good home for some teams. The pile of cards continued to build, my plea for collectors wasn't working so I ventured on a different route. Message boards. There were two teams in particular that were growing faster than others, the Toronto Blue Jays and the Colorado Rockies. There were some very nice cards and a number of game used/memorabilia cards that screamed to be housed in a friendly environment. Very little response, except to send a list of the cards and they would think about it. After roughly 10 requests there was a positive response from Jonathan in Toronto, of all places, that put the wheels of trading into motion. Jonathan explained that there was a vending machine in his local bowling alley that was well stocked of Junk Wax. He and his friends would buy packs of 1999 Upper Deck from the said vending machine and then go home and run simulations all night on how teams made from one pack of cards would fare against another.

Sounded like a pretty good Friday night; bowling, packs of cards, baseball simulations, throw in a pizza and some beer and it's the perfect night.

So in February 2009 the 200+ Blue Jays made their merry way to Toronto and I was happy. For those of you who participate in these types of blind trades, sometimes nothing is returned and receipt isn't acknowledged. That is the way it goes. There is a happy ending to this tale, out of the blue in November, Jonathan e-mails to say sorry, he was clearing out and remembered that he had agreed to send some cards. Last week some Junk Wax arrived from Toronto. Five packs from 1990 that I will bust in Pursuit of Red Sox. He also enclosed two Topps sticker packs that I hope were bought from the vending machine he mentioned. A vending machine full of baseball cards that is something that I would like to see.

The Rockies are still building too, they remain homeless.

Trade with Ross from Sports Card Info

A surprise package from Ross at Sports Card Info arrived through my letter box just before Christmas. I always found Ross's site to be hugely informative and his sleuthing ability to uncover fake cards and scams is second to none. I must admit to being a tad jealous of the product that he busts.
So what did the surprise package contain?
2009 Allen + Ginter #139 Daisuke Matsuzaka

2009 Sweet Spot #SS-WB Sweet Swatch Memorabilia of Wade Boggs. How sweet is that?
2009 Sweet Spot #29 Dustin Pedroia
2009 Sweet Spot #59 Jon Lester
2009 Topps Unique #40 Daisuke Matsuzaka

2009 Topps Unique #60 Victor Martinez
2009 Topps Unique #60 Victor Martinez red border #0549/1199
2009 Topps Unique #87 Jason Bay
2009 Topps Unique #108 Dustin Pedroia
2009 Topps Unique #108 Dustin Pedroia gold border#53/99
2009 Topps Unique #138 Jacoby Ellsbury
2009 Topps Unique #131 Josh Beckett
2009 Topps Unique #144 Mike Lowell

2009 Topps Unique #191 Josh Reddick black border #2482/2699

2009 Topps Unique #199 Aaron Bates red border #1199/1199
2009 Topps Unique #199 Aaron Bates black border #2343/2699

2009 Topps Unique #UU19 Kevin Youkilis

Now that is what I call a surprise package! Thanks Ross. The Phillies are accumulating.

Trade with Chuck from Chuck's Used Cards

Chuck, of Chuck's Used Cards, and I have sent trade packages back and forth a number of times now. He has collecting itch that I am able to scratch- soccer. The two major card releases in the UK are Topps Match Attax and Panini Champions League, there are a number of sticker variations on the football theme but Topps and Panini have the card market securely tied up with these two sets. Chuck is a fan of both the English Premier League and European teams, so these two releases fit nicely into his collecting remit. A padded envelope containing each made its way to Florida.
Chuck sent this selection of Red Sox in return:

1961 Topps #99 Don Buddin
1990 Swell #29 Rick Ferrell
1992 Fleer Ultra #17 Joe Hesketh
1993 Fleer Ultra #150 Danny Darwin
1993 Fleer Ultra #158 Bob Zupcic
1994 Studio #161 Andre Dawson
2001 Topps Archives #47 Ellis Kinder
2001 Topps Archives #66 Ted Lepcio
2001 Topps Archives #80 Jackie Jensen
2001 Topps Archives #93 Sid Hudson
2001 Topps Archives #195 Bill Consolo
2001 Topps Archives #217 Paul Schreiber
2001 Topps Archives #221 Dick Brodowski

The Topps Archives sets has sidled past relatively unnoticed, so thanks for including these Chuck.

This year I will be collecting !

Since getting back into collecting I decided to collect just one complete set every year. My choice is determined by four factors;
1. Availability. There is no point in choosing a set that is too difficult to obtain in the UK. The postage costs from the US are alright for a few cards and trades but complete boxes are just ridiculous.
2. Aesthetics. I choose sets that may not be everyone's cup of tea but they look good to me.
3. Price. (See point 1.) There is no point in trying to obtain the base set of Sweet Spot or Topps Finest. There is a small matter of food, utility bills, children and a wife to consider. And finally,
4. The Chase. There has to an effort to collect, which may involve trading or searching e-bay or picking up the odd pack.
I re-entered collecting in 2006 so the sets I have chosen so far are;

2006 Fleer Tradition

2007 UD Masterpieces

2008 Goudey (completed)

2009 Goodwin Champions

2010 ?

There is one other set which is 1994 Upper Deck All-Time Heroes for the simple reason that I was able to pick up half the set on e-bayUK. However being who I am I cannot leave it that way.
The wants list for these sets are;
2006 Fleer Tradition
To complete the 200 card base set, 28 still needed:
5, 6, 9, 11, 17, 22, 23, 28, 33, 34, 45, 47, 48, 51, 59, 60, 64, 65, 70, 76, 78, 84, 87, 89, 90, 93, 95, 115.
2007 UD Masterpieces
To complete the 90 card base set, 15 still needed:
1, 6, 8, 14, 19, 21, 28, 32, 34, 45, 47, 60, 66, 73, 79.
2009 Goodwin Champions
To complete the 150 card base set, still needed too many (34 cards obtained so far)
1994 UD All-time Heroes
To complete the 225 base card set,107 cards needed:
1, 9, 12, 20, 21, 22, 25, 30, 34, 35, 40, 44, 47, 57, 62, 66, 68, 73, 79, 88, 93, 95, 96, 98, 101-125, 135, 140, 143, 147, 150-178, 182, 186, 187, 188, 195, 199, 200, 202, 204, 206, 208-225.

So if you can help me out. It would be greatly appreciated.

Trade with Matt from Heartbreaking cards

Let's get back to trading. A short while ago this package arrived from Matt at Heartbreaking Cards of Staggering Genius. This was in response to a pile of Mariners and Royals I sent his way. Matt and Travis at Punk Rock Paint have inspired me to attempt making my own cards. They are complete crap but the attempt has been made. Makes you realise the effort they put in. The beauty of this trade was the mixture of cards sent, late 1970's, some early 80's and a few lovely shiny cards, which I know we all appreciate.
These are some of the Red Sox cards Matt sent from Lawrence, Kansas;
1975 Topps#645 Danny Carter
1976 Topps #396 Bill Lee
1978 Topps #12 Don Aase
1978 Topps #524 Bernie Carbo
1978 Topps #597 Steve Dillard
1981 Fleer #218 Fred Lynn
1981 Topps #123 Gary Allenson
1981 Topps #184 Jim Dwyer
1981 Topps #349 Glenn Hoffman
1982 Topps #91 Carney Lansford
1982 Topps #619 Bill Campbell
1983 Fleer #391 Doug Bird
1983 Fleer #395 Mark Clear
2002 Upper Deck Holographix #LL10 Manny Ramirez
2004 Topps Finest #14 Bill Mueller
2007 Bowman Best #22 Manny Ramirez
2007 UD Masterpieces #27 Daisuke Matsuzaka
2007 UD Masterpieces #86 Red Sox 2007 World Series Champions
2008 Topps Finest #45 Manny Ramirez
2008 Upper Deck X #X2-MA Manny Ramirez
to name but a few of the 50plus cards he sent.
The Red Sox are always appreciated. Thanks Matt.

A final look at 1980 Topps Baseball

Here is one final look at the complete set of 1980 Topps before I move onto pastures new. I was given my original 84 cards in 1980 by a school 'friend' they consisted of 19 Red Sox, 21 White Sox,15 Tigers and 1 card from the other teams in the MLB. Although I made a serious decision to complete the set in September 2008. The decision to collect baseball cards, and ultimately the 1980 Topps set, started in October 1980 almost 30 years ago. Here's to patience. Enjoy.

The opening page with cards numbered 1 to 9.

The final page with cards numbered 721 to 726 and the backs of 712 to 720.

That's a wrap!! 1980 Topps completed

I set out in September 2008 to collect all 726 cards of the 1980's Topps set. They were the first baseball cards that I ever received way back in 1980 and it started a modest obsession with baseball card collecting.

Thanks to many people and to Brian who sent the last three cards I needed. I had intended to look at each card indivdually but another collector beat me to the punch, so it is back to the drawing board to think of another pursuit.